North London
Hampstead
Living and studying in London is incredibly exciting. The city is absolutely packed with things to explore. From the London must-sees like the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben and many, many museums and galleries to the massive array of cuisines and nightlife, there’s a lot to be excited about.
One of the things you’re probably not all that excited about is keeping your student accommodation clean and tidy — but hear us out. Did you know that there’s a massive link between a tidy space and good mental health, and there are tonnes of benefits to keeping your room tidy?
A clean room can help you focus, relax, sleep better and fend off homesickness, to name just a few of the benefits. But don’t panic — we’re not saying you need to be deep cleaning your student accommodation every five minutes. Little and often is usually the best way to keep everything ship-shape.
In this guide, we’ve put together everything you need to know about how to tidy your room. It includes simple tips and tricks to help you make the most of your London student accommodation and overall uni experience.
Let’s get started.
Before we dive into the practical tips and tricks, let’s address the elephant in the room — cleaning and tidying probably isn’t at the top of your university to-do list. In fact, it’s probably not on the list at all.
But keeping your room tidy isn’t just about making it look good. It has real benefits for your mental and emotional well-being, which can be a game-changer in a new city.
Here are just some of the ways it can help you make the most of your university experience:
Over the course of your time at uni, you’re going to put in some serious hours writing essays, revising, reading and a long list of other studying activities. Regardless of how organised you are, there will be times when you need to hunker down and get productive.
A clean and tidy space is a productive space. When your room is organised, you’ll be able to focus better on your work. No more wasting time looking for that textbook you definitely put back on the shelf but can’t find anywhere. Keeping everything tidy means you can concentrate on your course and smash it.
Few experiences compare to your time at university (especially in London), but moving away from home, keeping up with your workload and being in a completely new place can take its toll on your mental health. The good news is that there are a lot of things you can do to stay in the right headspace, and, unsurprisingly, keeping your room tidy is one of them.
Let’s face it: a cluttered space can be a mental drain. If you’ve got hours of studying ahead, the last place you want to do it is in a messy room. Cleaning and tidying is a quick way to get a sense of accomplishment and tick something off your to-do list. This can help to reduce stress and anxiety and make relaxing easier.
There will be nights while you’re at university where you don’t get a whole lot of sleep. Whether it’s long nights in the library cramming for an exam or a night out with friends, you’ll probably have a fair few nights with fewer winks than you’re used to. But most of the time, you’ll want to get a good night's sleep.
Believe it or not, a tidy room can actually help you get a better night’s rest. When your environment is clutter-free, it’s a more restful space, and it’s so much easier to unwind, relax and drift off than in a messy space.
You might not believe it, but students like to eat more than just pot noodles and pasta. While living on a student budget in London means you’ll have your fair share of budget meals, that doesn’t mean you can’t eat healthily.
Unless the kitchen is a mess.
Keeping your kitchen or kitchenette nice and tidy means you’ll be more likely to cook up a healthy meal at home and less likely to open Deliveroo, JustEat or UberEats.
As you can see, keeping your student accommodation clean and tidy has a bunch of benefits. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy starting their day in a nice, tidy environment? And the good news is that it doesn’t have to be a chore.
Students often get a bad rap for not being tidy, and while it’s true in some cases, most students just have a lot going on. It can be a lot to get used to being independent and juggling your studies, social life and life admin.
Luckily, keeping your student accommodation in tip-top condition doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Over the years, we’ve seen students do a range of different things to keep their space tidy, and we’ve put some of the best ones together to give you some pointers:
One of the best ways to keep your room in good shape is to create tidying/cleaning schedule. Often, the art of keeping a room tidy is doing little tasks every day. Just like you organise your studies, set aside a bit of time every day to tidy up. Maybe on Mondays, you do your laundry, Tuesdays you hoover…
Having a schedule or a bedroom cleaning checklist means that it's easy to manage your chores. The last thing you want is a huge list of cleaning and tidying tasks when you’ve got a big deadline or a social event coming up. You can go old-fashioned with it and write down a schedule or use an app to set reminders.
You’d be surprised how quickly clutter can accumulate — especially in student accommodation. Try to make a habit of decluttering whenever you get the chance. During your first months at uni, you’ll get a lot of freebies (especially at the freshers' fair), and while some of them are pretty handy, most of them will just gather dust.
When you have the time, go through your belongings and decide what you want to keep, throw away or donate. This could be books, clothes or even furniture. If it’s clothes, you can always sell them if they’re in good condition on apps liked Vinted and make a bit of extra cash.
Small daily habits can make a big difference in keeping a space nice and tidy. Make your bed every morning (unless you’re in a real rush), put dirty clothes in your washing basket (and put clean clothes away), and wash dishes right after eating. Simple things like this can stop everything from piling up and make cleaning less of a chore. A few minutes a day can make a massive difference and save you from a lengthy deep clean later on.
Adding these habits to your daily routine can also have psychological benefits. The act of completing small tasks provides a sense of accomplishment, which can boost your mood and productivity. Over time, these little habits become second nature, making it easier to maintain a clean and organised living environment without feeling overwhelmed.
This one is pretty obvious, but it’s an important inclusion. Stocking up on cleaning supplies means that you’ve got everything nearby when you want to clean or tidy up. Most student accommodation will provide you with cleaning equipment like a Hoover (vacuum cleaner) and a mop so you won’t break the bank stocking up.
Here are some of the essentials we’d recommend:
When moving to university, it's easy to overpack. But bringing too much with you can make your living space cluttered instantly. When you’re packing, try to prioritise essentials and anything that you use a lot to keep your space as clutter-free as possible.
It’s also worth being selective about what you buy while you’re at uni. Before splurging on something, think about whether you really need it. That’s not to say you shouldn’t treat yourself from time to time and personalise your space…
Adding personal touches to your room can make it feel more like home, which in turn motivates you to keep it tidy. Consider decorating with fairy lights, picture frames and indoor plants. Just make sure to check your student accommodation rules before, as there can be some restrictions.
Personalisation isn't just about how your space looks, it's about creating a space that aligns with your lifestyle and needs. For instance, if you enjoy working out, a corner dedicated to exercise equipment can help you maintain a healthy routine. Tailoring your space to your interests can make it easier to keep organised and enjoyable to live in.
As you can see, keeping your space clean and organised isn't just a to-do list item. It's a lifestyle choice that can seriously boost both your academic growth and your mental well-being.
But the secret to a well-maintained space is genuinely liking where you live. When you're happy with your accommodation, you'll naturally want to keep it in top shape.
If you’re looking for student accommodation in London, we've got you covered. At StudentStudios2Let, we specialise in creating student accommodation that students love. We have a huge range of private student accommodation options across London that all come with:
Ready to find student accommodation in London? Explore our accommodation options today and find the perfect place to call home while you study. Got questions? Get in touch with our lovely team.
